There’s a reason the Big Horn Rams have been a unanimous #1 all season in the Wyopreps Top 5- as they have been steamrolling everyone in their path so far. It took seven weeks into the schedule for the NCHS Tigers to get their turn. The 2016 2A State Champs and ’17 1A State Runnerup have a loaded senior class and it will take a monumental effort to upset them in the playoffs.

1:01 into the game Carson Bates scampered around the end for a 62 yard TD run and Jack Nance kicked his first of seven PATs, putting the Tigers on notice. On the ensuing drive Lusk was moving the ball before coughing up the ball inside Ram territory. Moments later Quinn McCafferty scored from two yards and the lead became 14-0 rather quickly. As the quarter wound down BH struck again with McCafferty finding Bates on a 42 yard score.

The Tiger offense had a hard time finding much daylight and was forced to punt seven times. This gave BH more scoring chances as McCafferty got together with Will Pelissier for a 57 yard score. Two more TD passes to Kade Eisle and Kyler Ostler and a four yard run from Eisle made it a dreadful 49-0 halftime score.

With the running clock in play and BH’s varsity offense done, the third quarter went quickly before their varsity defense rested. NCHS was able to move the ball and broke the goal line on Drake Lamp’s nine yard run at 9:21. Damien Molzahn was denied on the conversion attempt but a sigh of relief came across the sidelines. Moments later senior Declan Jensen reached high to grab an interception before being dragged down near the 30 yard line. The Tigers capitalized minutes late as Molzahn scored from two yards away. The conversion was stuffed and the game ended in the 49-12 defeat.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

NCHS 0 0 0 12  12

BHHS 21 28 0 0  49

TEAM STATS

NCHS: Passing- 3 /4, 44 yds. Rushing- 46 atts/127 yds. Receiving- 3 catches/44 yds. First downs- 8. 3 fumbles/3 lost. 1 Penalty/ 5 yds.

BHHS: Passing 7/14, 185 yds. Rushing- 27 atts/240 yds. First downs- 10. 1 fumble/1 lost. 1 penalty/10 yds.

NCHS PLAYER STATS: Passing- Wyatt Stauffer 3 comp/4 atts, 44 yds. Rushing- Lamp 20 atts/68 yds, TD; Molzahn 17/46, TD; Kade Clark 2/16; James Stone 3/2. Receiving- Teagan Tschacher 1 catch/30 yds; Stone 2/14. Defensive points- Stone 19; Da. Molzahn 13; Dylan Molzahn 9; Jasper Caldera 9; Jensen 8; Ryan Bruegger 7; Aric Eaton 6; Tschacher 6; Lamp 5; Dmitri Richards 5; Stauffer 3; Tanner Carpenter 2; Jacob Miller 1.

The JV finished up a 1-3 season as the Torrington frosh won 22-14 Monday night here.

This Friday concludes the regular season and the Tigers are in a must-win situation at Pine Bluffs Friday night. A win over the reeling Hornets (losers of three straight) would clinch a playoff spot- and possibly, combined with a TR win over Wright- could move the Tigers to the #3 seed from the East. “We’ve worked hard, I just hope we’re hungry enough to want the playoffs,” said Head Coach Ryan Nelson. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.